Pastaria Vivi is the project of Michelin-trained chefs Brandon Jennings and William Treff, a longtime collaboration rooted in their early careers cooking together in Boston. The duo met while working at No. 9 Park, where a shared obsession with pasta-making evolved into a long-term vision that would eventually bring them to North County San Diego.
Slated to open in early 2026 in Encinitas Village, the store will function as both a fresh pasta counter and a curated Italian market. The space is designed around transparency and craftsmanship, featuring a five-seat pasta counter where guests can watch the chefs work, a 12-seat communal table, and outdoor seating for a relaxed neighborhood dining experience.
The menu will center on fresh, handmade pastas produced daily using Northern Italian techniques and California-sourced ingredients. Offerings are expected to include tagliatelle, pappardelle, ravioli, tortellini, and vegan extruded pastas, paired with classic and seasonal sauces ranging from pomodoro and bolognese to richer preparations like roasted garlic alfredo. Many items will be available to enjoy on site or packaged for home cooking, reinforcing the concept’s dual role as restaurant and specialty market.
Beyond pasta, Pastaria Vivi will also sell housemade burrata and focaccia, charcuterie, desserts, imported Italian and local wines, olive oils, grains, dried goods, and artisan ceramics sourced from Tuscany. An onsite mill will be used to process grain for pasta production, underscoring the project’s emphasis on technique and ingredient integrity.
Jennings brings more than two decades of global hospitality experience to the project, including leadership roles with Tao Group Hospitality and time overseeing high-volume international operations in Singapore. He later helped maintain Michelin Guide recognition at Mille Fleurs in Rancho Santa Fe before settling in Encinitas to launch Pastaria Vivi. Treff, a Culinary Institute of America graduate, sharpened his skills within Boston’s Barbara Lynch Group and later at Lazy Bear in San Francisco. During the pandemic, he built a cult following through Nardello’s Fresh Pasta, an underground operation that laid much of the groundwork for Pastaria Vivi.
Ahead of the storefront opening, the chefs have been refining their offerings through regular appearances at the Cardiff Farmers Market, where their fresh pastas and sauces have steadily gained a loyal local following. The team also plans to launch a monthly pasta subscription service, dubbed “The Pasta Drop,” allowing customers to pick up curated boxes featuring seasonal pastas, sauces, cheeses, and recipe cards.
Longer term, Pastaria Vivi aims to evolve into a community hub, with plans for pasta-making classes and educational experiences that invite guests deeper into the craft. As Encinitas continues to attract chef-driven, specialty-focused food concepts, Pastaria Vivi is positioning itself as both a neighborhood resource and a destination for high-quality handmade Italian cuisine in North County San Diego.
Pastaria Vivi is anticipated to open in late winter or early spring 2026 at 119 North El Camino Real, Suite G, in San Diego's North County city of Encinitas. For more information, visit pastariavivi.com.
Originally published on December 29, 2025.